1 A Teftimony from Friends of the Province of Ulfter in Ireland, concerning WILLIAM GRAY. A S there are some still living amongst us, who remember this our dear Friend from his Youth, and knew him then to have been of a fober Life and Converfation, and one who had a Regard to the Fear and Grace of God in his Heart; fo there are many more of a younger Generation, who do know and very well remember his Services in the Church, for upwards of Thirty Years past. And therefore, in Teftimony to the good Spirit and Grace of God, which qualified him for those Services, wherein he afterwards became eminently ferviceable; as well as for the ftirring up and encouraging others to come up in Faithfulness, we find a Concern in our Minds to fay fomething concerning him, both as to thofe Qualifications with which he was endued, and alfo as to his Service in the Church. He was plain and exemplary, of a grave and folid Deportment, had a ready Utterance, and of a found difcerning Judgment, and had a clear and ready Understanding in difficult Cafes; by which Qualifications he was enabled, not only to be very helpful in compofing Differences, and speaking to Things he obferved obferved amifs; but also having acquainted himself with the Rules and Order of Friends, could fpeak pertinently and clearly in our Meetings of Bufinefs; and being invited by Friends of the Select Meeting, to join with them in that Service, he was cautious in accepting thereof, doubting his own Qualifications; but being afraid to reject the Love and Goodwill of Friends to him, for his Growth and Perfeverance in the bleffed Truth, he accepted of Friends Invitation, and became a Member of that Meeting; in which he behaved himself with much Submiffion, Care and Preference to elder Friends. And as it pleafed the Lord to call his fellow Elders to Reft and Peace with him, the Concern came more weighty upon this our Friend, which he faithfully dif charged to the laft; feldom omitting, in Meetings for Bufinefs, to advise Friends to Paithfulnefs, Care and Circumfpection, in an orderly Converfation; and that all might come up in their respective Services, and in duly attending Meetings for Worship, both First-days and other Days; in which he was a good Example; and that they might be truly concerned therein to wait upon the Lord, to know their Strength renewed in him, that fo they might come to lay down their Heads in Peace, whenever it fhould pleafe the Lord to call them hence. Towards the latter Part of his Time, he was concerned to bear a publick Teftimony in Meetings, H Meetings, though in a Crofs to his own Will, tenderly exhorting Friends to give all Diligence to make their Calling and Election fure; to witness which, would out-ballance all that this World can afford; and not barely to fatisfy themselves with coming to Meetings, but to wait for that Bread which nourisheth the Soul up unto eternal Life. His Houfe was always open for Friends, who were received with much Freedom, Love and Care, and he loved the Company of honeft, faithful Friends, both Ministers and others. More might be faid concerning him, but we are not willing to enlarge; yet we may say, he was an honeft Man, a good Friend and Neighbour, a loving Husband, a kind Father, and one who was very helpful, both to poor Friends and others who were in want. He took his laft Ilnefs coming from the Third Month's Half-year's Meeting in Dublin, and was only in one Meeting afterwards. And though his Pain at times was violent, he endured it with much Patience and Refignation of Mind, and quietly departed this Life the 20th Day of the Fourth Month 1736. Aged about Seventy four. A Minister about Six Years. A Teftimony A Teftimony from the Monthly - meeting of Nottingham, concerning JOSEPH Moseley. HR Derby, in the Year 1677, and was HE E was born at Appleby, in the County of educated in the Way of the Church of England. About the Twenty third Year of his Age, it pleafed the Lord fo to influence his Underftanding, as to fhew him his undone State by Nature; and he was fo wrought upon, that from that Time he was defirous of ferving the Lord in Newness of Life. A little after, he joined himself to thofe People called Prefbyterians; but not finding that Pearl of great Price, which his Soul longed for, he retired from them, not joining with any Profeffion until about the Year 1707, and the Thirtieth Year of his Age, when he was convinced of the bleffed Truth, at a Meeting at Hart's-hill in Warwickshire. About two Years after his Convincement, it pleased the Lord to call him to the Work of the Ministry; in which he was a faithful and ferviceable Labourer, to the comforting and refreshing of the honest-hearted. He was not only of fingular Service in publick Ministry, but likewife in private Conversation, generally giving good and wholfome Advice to those who ftood in need of it. He was naturally of H 2 a fweet a fweet and chearful Difpofition, yet innocent; which made him acceptable to moft Sorts of People. He lived at Appleby, the Place of his Nativity, until the Year 1736, and then found Freedom to come to live at Nottingham: And as he was of great Benefit to the Meetings to which he belonged, when he lived at Appleby, fo was he of like Service whilft he lived amongst us, which though but a fhort time, yet we can truly fay, we have a great Lofs of him. His laft Ilnefs, which was a Fever, he bore with much Patience, being totally refigned to the Will of the Almighty. On the Day of his Death, being the Firft-day of the Week, feveral Friends being prefent, he appeared in Teftimony, which tendered them very much. About half an Hour before his Departure, he prayed earnestly to the Lord, which he continued to do until near his Diffolution, and went away like a Lamb, being the 18th of the Eighth Month 1736. In the Fifty ninth Year of his Age. A Minifter of the Gospel about Twenty leven Years. 1 A Teftimony |